Clad in an oversized hoodie, your dark curly hair tumbles forward, concealing your eyes and most of your face, a welcome barrier against the surrounding bustle. 572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnU1NPBRYp
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcsZ5FrYzs
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuNtBvuwcz
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVwYasm49Q
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKdelAd9nb
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOjSYR7ACH
He stands by the lockers, his stance casual yet imposing, his face giving nothing away. He catches your eye with a look that pins you in place.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsHkcbfjzP
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKoVeMshQZ
In-woo: I need you to run some errands, grab my lunch, and don’t forget to pick up my math homework from the printer. Make it quick, okay?572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NZQNGwfIw
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpd1kG95Oz
You nod, resigned. There's no escaping the routine. Every task is an echo of the years spent under his quiet dominance. You never use your money for his errands; he makes sure of it, a small token that doesn’t soften the burden of your duties.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWQos6OiVl
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHKgF2O5aP
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXnqCxEzba
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQafs025mMT
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSov8qhWIT
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcizjmo92CY
The cafeteria is bustling, a cacophony of adolescent energy and the clatter of trays. You fulfill his lunch order, the familiar pang of annoyance softened by the routine discovery of a burger among the items—a small treat he includes, unspoken, for you.
It's a strange, silent concession from him, a confusing gesture that adds complexity to your tangled feelings.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiNJAWI6ZY
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv82RlvVoTg
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLMBD08d2k
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqn6nzG1yQ
Back at the lockers, you hand him the neatly stacked papers and the food, his fingers brushing against yours briefly, unintentionally. His expression remains unreadable, his eyes not meeting yours.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPEXvmBWof
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg0sdiRqcx
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV3ilLyGMJ
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6jmJALPvg
You turn away, the frustration simmering inside. His indifference is a mask, the reasons behind his actions as obscured as his emotions. Every favor you do, every task you complete, you’re left with more questions than answers.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTnTQ1n84x
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpFIql04jo
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9EXVPwocL
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxowatvLGG
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEvgJtRnN3
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[Transition]572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o2vDAEZ2g
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You navigate the quieting halls after your last class, anticipating the solitude of your walk home when you spot In-woo near the old, rarely used art room. It's not a surprise—more of a routine encounter.
He positions himself intentionally in your path, a silent sentinel with an unspoken expectation.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU5paX1TvR
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aPuMql2Li
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSmPc6DPBr
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJBDY500qC
With no spoken command needed, you walk over, feeling the invisible tug of his presence. This enforced ritual has turned into a personal challenge for you to fill his silence with a flood of your daily trivialities, hoping to drown him in the mundane details of your life.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRC5AiDEFS
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpEFuw2Tp9
Today, you launch into an animated recount of your younger sibling’s latest antics, the words pouring out in a relentless stream.
He stands there, a stoic figure, giving nothing away as you chatter about the mess at breakfast, the chaos of getting everyone out the door, and the comedy of errors that followed.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDZ2Grtn9y
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ3Es6ZHcV
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWBuqN4Yeu
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7YZ3wOJE6
Your monologue drifts to the more tedious aspects of your day—how you nearly fell asleep in history class, the peculiar smell of the school cafeteria, or the peculiar way your pen keeps leaking.
It’s a litany of the profoundly ordinary, delivered with a hope that maybe, just maybe, he’ll grow tired of these one-sided sessions.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKyShrUrWU
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHbxYkPzym
Despite your efforts, In-woo remains as impassive as ever, his face a mask of indifference. Is he even listening, or are you just background noise to him?572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx59lmIs8lB
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uaZkTKYcV
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoc6J58xRau
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8CM86nbSc
As the corridor empties, leaving echoes in its wake, your stories begin to run dry. You look at him, trying to gauge any sign of boredom or irritation, but his expression is unreadable—locked away behind a façade of detachment.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF44HKArlU
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsxS41W9ox
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdU53kPnFs
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mmpmrIOie
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jD0LxMAkg
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh1KFtI11R
You watch him disappear around the corner, the weight of unspoken questions lingering in the air. Picking up your backpack, you start towards the exit, pondering the peculiar form of attention he gives you, wondering if it means more than you realize.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3JZn0S67b
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2puI6Haegh
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP80Hsy3sYa
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdO7jcuuNSI
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV4nYycFtj
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[Transition]572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbI7no9Zcy
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You stride down the school corridor, your thoughts swirling with the conflicting emotions that have haunted you through the years. The echoes of your footsteps mingle with the whispers of your internal turmoil—a constant battle between disdain and desire.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYC4TvTJyp
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobL4ETHEfm
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteMnVDFyMY
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNtYIjK7mL
As you pass by, your eyes catch sight of In-woo in the library, helping a younger student reach a book on a high shelf. His movements are graceful, effortless.
His face, usually so impassive when he looks at you, softens with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes but lights up his features all the same. The sight tugs at something deep within you.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlUclqUtPX
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HkslA11Er
Shin-woo: (Look at him... even when he smiles, it's like he's not really there. But it's enough to make my heart skip, isn't it?)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHbFCqEeKI
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdYEoUzktq
You lean against the lockers, watching him interact with her—a stark contrast to how he treats you. The girl giggles, thanking him, and he nods with a trace of that unreachable smile.
As they part ways, your heart tightens, the familiar pang of jealousy and longing squeezing tightly.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2f0sAJF1Y
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhRQut34PG
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C6M7uFtrq
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNyvgI7YgW
The bell rings, pulling you from your reverie, but the image of his gentle smile lingers in your mind. You push off from the lockers, forcing your legs to move, dragging your tangled emotions along the tiled floor.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UFgFkNYsc
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsPe79HkVy
Shin-woo: (He's so confusing... so frustrating. I hate how much I pay attention, but I can't stop. It's like being stuck in a loop, always back to square one with him.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLIETN6liq
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPC0b9pSCj
As you turn the corner, your eyes inadvertently search for another glimpse of him, a habit you despise yet indulge in every time. The complex weave of your feelings tightens with each sighting, each casual interaction he has that you witness from afar.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsqxrylSqJ
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKGfq2IkyR
Shin-woo: (And every time he's kind, every time he smiles at someone else, it feels like a small betrayal. Why do I even care? Why can't I just turn off these feelings?)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82GuZf5GrX
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ogQkQSu3W
You head to class, the weight of your unspoken questions and unresolved emotions clouding your mind like a fog that refuses to lift. Each step is a reminder of the turbulent journey through your schooling years, marked by the paradox of resentment and yearning, never quite settling on either.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHBt2xuz0G
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[Transition]572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAn46NzsUw
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T2uWLzGgz
Saturday morning unfolds slowly at your home, the air filled with the laughter and occasional squabbles of your younger siblings.
As you step into the living room, your eyes immediately find Dae-hyun, 5 years old, constructing a fortress out of cushions on the sofa. His eyes light up when he sees you, and a grin spreads across his face.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Lc1U45dPs
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHGtYtq55T
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJYpUQ7gaJ
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhcDvrzWjZ
You can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, bending down to assist him with his architectural endeavor. His small hands clumsily adjust the cushions you strategically place, his giggles infectious.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrVDape6hY
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4sKcuc0cq
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt6dGVCZyr
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhoal3Gzyx
Next, you find Byung-ho, 6 years old, engrossed in a makeshift game of pirates, his toy sword swishing through the air as he navigates the treacherous carpet seas. He spots you and immediately recruits you as his first mate.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEjhLChR2C
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLyHWnYhBW
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tXIbZ8Oq1
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvTP12Wsrd
His expression is stern, but the twinkle in his eyes betrays his playful spirit. You join his game, following his lead as he outlines the rules with the seriousness of a sea captain.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOC7W0SjTX
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6vfWiTWNH
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8KDRxZTLE
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3exS3P0xO
Meanwhile, Iseul is at the kitchen table, working on her homework but clearly struggling to focus. Her brow is furrowed, and she occasionally scribbles something, then sighs heavily—a pre-teen of 8 years old wrapped up in the drama of schoolwork and growing up.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWKG83Qa1R
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QpVDyVibb
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2XP6AIr5T
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Iov6H0FNN
Shin-woo: Need some help?572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTLhicWxdu
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7kJ7jynyt
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbXUK6guBA
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxY0iEXfGGm
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vjiCV4uUp
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeG4PVNH09z
Her tone is a blend of the capricious pre-teen attitude you’re starting to see more often, but her eyes are grateful that you’re there to help.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOpDS0SCEO
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTP4PaatBN
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BVhSyAyVy
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulDlklYG0l
As you sit down to guide her through the math problem, explaining the steps with patient gestures, Dae-hyun clambers into your lap, snuggling close. The warmth of his small body and the focus on Iseul’s homework encapsulate the dual role you play in their lives—protector and mentor.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokxof0W48o
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJKasrUPSd
Byung-ho’s victorious shout as he ‘finds’ his treasure fills the room, blending with Iseul’s relieved “Ah, I get it now!” and Dae-hyun’s contented sigh as he begins to drift off to sleep in your arms.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM93f3ITHBa
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9yFN0cDxS
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4uIUaRL1z
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1p9Yi4AHq
You balance the weight of your youngest brother in your arms with the weight of your family’s needs, the love you have for them making every challenge worthwhile.
Time passes quietly as you hold Dae-hyun close, his breathing deep and steady as he sleeps against your chest. The day drifts into a peaceful lull, the quiet moments with your siblings grounding you.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRDY2cE3Iw
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvkC3IPRs2
Eventually, the stillness of the afternoon is broken by the soft creak of the front door. Your mom slips out quietly, heading off to another long shift, her departure a familiar routine. The door closes with a soft click that echoes through the now-quiet apartment.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHB4t0nYb96
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYhFV9f6av
It’s a sound you’re all too familiar with, one that signals the start of another stretch where she’ll be at work, trying to keep everything together for the family.
The weight of her absence sits heavily on your shoulders, a reminder of the responsibilities you’ve taken on since your dad passed away four years ago.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1ylZBu2Iv
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZUphKUiqd
Shin-woo: (She’s always so tired… She never complains, but I can see it. I just wish she didn’t have to work so hard.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhsoYvhA62
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Eyslka8K4
You glance around the small apartment, now eerily quiet without the usual hum of activity. It’s moments like this when you miss your mom the most—not just her presence, but the way she used to laugh more freely before everything became about surviving.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IDN7MjWkt
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoT32gpsXC
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO91E2DgGQx
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZG7ufOs75
Your thoughts are interrupted by the familiar knock at the door. You already know who it is before you open it. Eun-ho, your childhood friend, stands there with a grin that could rival the sun.
He doesn’t need an invitation, stepping inside like he’s done a thousand times before. 572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2O08dvnLkI
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fduGQqjpu
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzyOQktkTA
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEv9u42VBxX
He drops his bag by the couch, plopping down like it’s his own home. In many ways, it is. The two of you have spent countless weekends and holidays here, filling the silence with laughter and mischief. Eun-ho’s presence always has a way of lightening the atmosphere, his energy infectious.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OaCCuiVwK
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5AXoLhNAi
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA0Kf82Rxj
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlT1hvKlEeB
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq9ZI73g9B
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWO3zHphZEo
You join him on the couch, and he immediately starts goofing around, poking you in the ribs until you’re both laughing like kids again. This is your escape—a brief reprieve from the worries that usually occupy your mind.
He throws an arm around your shoulders, his voice dropping into that playful tone he uses whenever he wants to get a rise out of you.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqtXpg1B81
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUVSWVLHCu
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnbEaOZyHH
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpBIL6qIWd
You freeze for a second, shooting him a glare, but it lacks real heat. He’s the only person who knows about your complicated feelings for In-woo, and he’s never let you live it down.
But you also know it comes from a place of understanding, not judgment.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWDviVrlQR
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOCqHP8JaL
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJ2VEwj9tf
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVthPfxen3y
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkLEaFGLuW
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56WngIK3sq
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYNL3BnWDy
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6k2v8j5AF
You groan, leaning back against the couch, trying to will away the flush that creeps up your neck. He’s relentless, but that’s just who Eun-ho is. He knows how to push your buttons, but it’s also his way of showing he cares.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaD0hOkF36
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEb6Dnjwlp
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAq4Vn7Opj
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VO2820OEj
The two of you settle into your usual routine—talking about everything and nothing, playing video games, and just enjoying the rare moments of peace when life doesn’t feel so heavy.
It’s these weekends that remind you you’re not alone, even when it feels like the world is on your shoulders.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vvxMfsYvy
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazukQ0swBg
As the evening draws on, Eun-ho eventually falls asleep on the couch, his arm draped over his eyes to block out the light. You watch him for a moment, the steady rise and fall of his chest calming your own racing thoughts.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm45mcd5wac
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKZhbaImS7
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nDDIoFCXS
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQSNqWppv6
You pull a blanket over him before heading to your room, the apartment now filled with the quiet sound of Eun-ho’s soft snores.
It’s not much, but these moments are enough to keep you going, to remind you that, no matter how tough things get, you’ve got someone in your corner.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaivHAOiIOy
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ijPnxtwdj
And with that thought, you let yourself relax, knowing that tomorrow will bring its own challenges, but also knowing you won’t be facing them alone.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOxhh5gsrh
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[Transition]572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0GdJViQvg
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It's spring, the season when the world outside bursts into color and life. As if on cue with the blooming flowers, In-woo has his own ritual.
Today, like many times before, he leads you to the old cherry blossom tree on the edge of the school grounds. The air is cool, but the sun dapples through the branches, casting playful shadows on the ground.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJGdHv89B9
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAXVYsPPEB
In-woo stretches out beneath the tree, his back against the grass, eyes closed in a serene expression. You settle next to him, not as relaxed, your body tense as you pretend to gaze outward at the scattered petals.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfgwiLqE8k
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn5ga7gvfk
Shin-woo: (Every spring it’s the same, but I never tire of it. It’s the one time I can just look at him, really look, without fear of being caught.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNswY26fzDY
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBuISHj2Wl
You shift slightly, turning to steal a glance at In-woo. His features are softened by the gentle sunlight, making him look almost peaceful, a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor.
The setting is almost too picturesque, him lying there without a care, and you sitting guard, watching over his repose. Your hair falls forward, a convenient veil that completely conceals your face from curious onlookers, allowing you to gaze at him unnoticed.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBWicadmLu
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo13j0QrCI
His chest rises and falls with a rhythm that lulls you into a sense of tranquility you only find here, in these moments. Your heart beats a little faster as you allow your eyes to trace the lines of his face—the curve of his jaw, the gentle arch of his brows.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqoKCG5y3X
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu6SFmE5Wu
Shin-woo: (He’s like some character from a story, too perfect to be real. And here I am, close enough to know it’s not all just a façade.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpv5duXjnS
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgfuUxOppB
Your hand inches closer to his, a subconscious desire to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality. But you stop halfway, pulling back before a touch can break the spell.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWR2On6x7H
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBOtFlEg6e
In-woo stirs slightly, his eyelids fluttering but not opening, and you quickly avert your gaze, focusing on a random point on the ground. Your heart hammers in your chest, worried for a moment that he caught you staring.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VaSDGNcL4
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ6eIU6B92
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUACPje8c2L
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgBMvHVMMJ
You draw in a deep breath, the scent of cherry blossoms filling your lungs, and settle in to enjoy the tranquility of the moment, however fleeting it may be.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2PkSsIjxw
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLlN1giqTB
The fleeting serenity of your spring ritual with In-woo comes to an abrupt end as he springs to his feet, full of energy.
With a characteristic tug at your sleeve, he pulls you along to the next event of the day—a basketball match against a rival high school. In-woo's school has never lost to this team, thanks largely to his prowess on the court.
[Transition]572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqDPS8E5TX
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0NryRRZwl
You follow him to the gym, your role during these games well-practiced. You find your usual spot in the front row, armed with a bottle of water and a towel, essentials for In-woo during his breaks.
As you settle down, you feel the weight of numerous stares. Jealous glances from both girls and boys slice through the air towards you, their envy palpable. 572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNpkJI4Jal
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbZqoRG7Ir
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxi7uR9YHD
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvPml62R4q
Your lips curl into a smirk, one that doesn’t quite reach your eyes but serves its purpose. It's a small rebellion, a silent assertion of your place by his side, even if the nature of that place is misunderstood by onlookers.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJD44h2esL
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gRwJwxaCb
As the game starts, In-woo transforms. On the court, he is not the stoic, unapproachable figure you spend your days with but a dynamic, almost untouchable force.
Each movement he makes is fluid and precise, his athleticism on full display. You can’t help but be captivated. 572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ96ImqLtx
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCtV3NmHby
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpVNTQFW75
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnvdSgNEVr
Your smile widens as he scores yet another basket, his team pulling further ahead. The crowd's cheers swell around you, a tumultuous sea of excitement and energy, but your focus remains solely on In-woo.
His shirt clings to him, damp with sweat, outlining muscles that shift and flex with every move. The sight sends a warm thrill through you.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1n1Fw30ir
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9QhQH1xpV
Shin-woo: (He’s incredible. Not just as a player... but just him. Every time I think I’ve got my feelings under control, he does something to show me I’m far from over him.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9D0uip26c
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsRo2WuDzU
You clutch the water bottle tighter, anticipation building with each pause in the game when you know he’ll jog over to you for a quick refresh, his face alight with the thrill of the game, eyes finding yours for that brief moment that seems to stretch and bend in the air between you.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw3eVwe5Q1
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LJatnNPUC
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYINh97OufN
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wl7YXoeWe
The whistle blows, snapping you out of your reverie, and he jogs over again, that same determined, competitive gleam in his eyes that somehow softens just a fraction when he looks at you.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5YN4FBghL
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy19GQj79G2
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfum3MO6B82
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg7khHKOw5
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIuMhgPO6U
You hand him the towel first, watching as he wipes the sweat from his forehead and neck, his movements precise and calculated. There's an intensity to his actions, a focus that he carries from the court to even the simplest tasks.
You then offer the water bottle, and as he takes a long drink, your eyes are irresistibly drawn to the motion of his Adam's apple, tracking each swallow with a fascination you can't hide.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62WEEeJPqI
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TMA8X1Pcv
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1vK6ri9xJ
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sdgxceS0n
A droplet of water escapes, tracing a line down from the corner of his mouth to his neck. Your gaze follows the path of the water, lingering a moment too long.
Unconsciously, your tongue flicks out, wetting your own lips as if you could taste the salty sweetness of his effort from across the air between you.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB827musmv
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTwudRAYRg
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlOSRhQDDo
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLG3hoM652e
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjcXLxUrfY
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBC43BnmXX
His look is a mix of amusement and a challenge, a silent question about what exactly you find so captivating. Flustered, you scramble mentally, looking away briefly before meeting his eyes again, an attempt to regain some composure. 572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDHofy7zVf
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXc2GyMHT1
Shin-woo: (Focus. He’s just a guy. Just a guy who happens to throw my world off its axis every time he looks at me.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yTbNBd93g
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpxIm4nwx3
As he finishes drinking and hands back the bottle, the moment stretches taut between you. There’s an acknowledgment in his glance, a recognition of the unspoken tension that always seems to dance just on the edge of your interactions.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdNubXw62E
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOyGRbtqiD
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZfjZr0clt
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy3rcNWv60
He returns to the game without another word, leaving you to ponder the brief encounter, your heart pounding a little too loudly in your chest.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYfOrLeyiB
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOOGNQxIHy
The game resumes with its usual fervor, the crowd’s energy palpable as the players dart back and forth across the court. You watch, half-lost in the ebb and flow of the match, your nerves tight each time In-woo handles the ball.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYzml3NiZ8
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjp4DjNXnG
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb8SOSMWrf
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8UEwTgYG5
Your focus sharpens as Dylan, a notorious rival from the opposing team, enters into a direct contest with In-woo.
You know Dylan by reputation and unfortunate personal experience; he's the type who bristles at being overlooked, and his interactions with you have been uncomfortably forward, always trying to catch your eye with a wink or a smirk during games.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7y4UDq4zZk
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmyN8JW7Z8
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTU7UjodJm4
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAKp09adOR
Today, Dylan's antagonism is more palpable than ever. His taunts seem louder, aimed not just to unnerve In-woo but to draw a reaction from you as well.
However, In-woo, ever the stoic, ignores him, focused solely on the game. This only seems to infuriate Dylan further.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg5CTndoef
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGM41HfVVkL
As the tension on the court builds, a sudden movement catches your eye—a deliberate, aggressive shove from Dylan. In-woo, caught off-guard, stumbles backward, his balance lost.
The world seems to slow down as In-woo's head makes a sickening thud against the metal basketball post. He crumples to the floor, motionless.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3gKvMUob9
572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruPhbgWFNX
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
and then Add to home screen.